Early In the Morning: Training Camp with the Dolphins

If you're coming from Dade to Dolphins training camp, stop for a colada. Bring an extra for the media (translation: me, David J.) and get a "Sal-loot!" on Twitter. (If you're coming from Broward, stop for a colada and tell them, yes, con azucar because otherwise it isn't a colada.)

See, the public practices start early this year. Big early. Two-a-days have gone the way of Pat White. But the July 27-30, Aug. 1-3, Aug. 6-7 and Aug. 13-15 practices start at 8 a.m. Aug. 4 starts at 9:15 a.m. Aug. 8 begins at 5:45 so save the caffeine, bring the bug spray. Aug. 12 is a 1 p.m. practice.

And that's that for training camp in front of the fans.

--- DAVID J. NEAL

 

Update from Thursday Dolphins practice; Some good, some not-so-good for Tannehill

On Thursday, the final day of the team's offseason program, Ryan Tannehill got the most first-team snaps that he ever has on a single day since joining the Dolphins. Until Thursday, his snaps with the first team were very, very, very limited.

The results Thursday were mixed.

For a full report on Thursday's practice (including all the highs and lows from Tannehill); a look at everything Joe Philbin had to say after Wednesday's practice; and news and notes from Tuesday's practice, please click HERE on my Sports Buzz blog and keep scrolling down. You'll see the reports from all three days. We also have Thursday quotes from Joe Philbin from moments ago wrapping up the team's offseason program.

Shout-outs today go to Julius Pruitt (three touchdowns), Reshad Jones and Sean Smith (both made interceptions); David Garrard (remains pretty consistent; threw a TD to Pruitt) ; Anderson Russell (picked off Matt Moore); Roberto Wallace (very good the past month) and cornerback Quentin Lawrence, who got more work with Nolan Carroll sidelined.

Armando will be back in late July, when training camp opens.

--- BARRY JACKSON

Ochocinco gets 85; Mahaffey gets a spot; Moye gets cut

Any questions?

The Dolphins announced this morning that Chad Ochocinco will wear No. 85, which had been worn by rookie Rishard Matthews previously this spring. I don't know if there was any money, goods or services exchanged, but I think you kind of get buffalo'ed out of your number when you're a seventh-round pick who hasn't made an NFL roster yet.

The Dolphins also signed fullback Ryan Mahaffey, roster filler for Indianapolis last season after they got him off Baltimore's practice squad. The franchise waived undrafted rookie free agent wide receiver Derek Moye. Save your money, guys.

 --- DAVID J. NEAL

 

Practice notes and Philbin confirms Chad workout

Not much news out of today's Oranized Team Activity except that Joe Philbin a) isn't happy with the number of drops from the Dolphins receivers and b) confirmed they've already worked out Chad Ochocinco.

"It was recent," Philbin chuckled when asked about timing.

I'd take that to mean early this morning. If Brian Hartline's injury that's caused him to miss OTA time turns out to be more than a minor calf problem, then the Dolphins might have a hard look at signing Miami Beach High graduate Chad.

Cornerback Richard Marshall stayed on the sidelines with the groin injury suffered May 29, but Vontae Davis was back taking regular reps.

Running back Reggie Bush said his absence from the May 29 OTA was excused and caused by a family matter.

For more news and notes on today's practice - including quarterback stuff - click on Barry Jackson's sports buzz blog to the right of this one.  He has a new post up.

Don't count your Chads yet; Ross to chat with season ticket holders

David Neal standing in for Armando Salguero, who will return from vacation, I promise.

As the rumors fly about that Liberty City native Chad Ochocinco will sign with the Dolphins -- helped by a pseudo-Adam Schefter Twitter account tweeting that and Ochocinco's fiancee allegedly on TV saying he'll sign here -- an assessment from an NFL scout questions whether he'll be signing with anybody.

The scout said Ochocinco seems to have lost his explosiveness and, without that, doesn't bring enough to the table to justify the veteran minimum he'll make.

Obviously, that assessment gets changed if there's something seriously wrong with wide receiver Brian Hartline, who isn't at today's OTA, and Ochocinco shows decently at his workout for the Dolphins. But I'm hearing Hartline has just a minor injury.

Second round draft pick Jonathan Martin is at his first OTA today.

ROSS ON CONFERENCE CALL

Dolphins owner Stephen Ross will have a conference call with season ticket holders tonight at 7 p.m. And that's all I'm going to say about that for now.

 

Dolphins sign a Lane

Apparently, the Dolphins philosophy has changed from rummaging through the remains of Dallas' 2000s disappointment to Texas A&M's more current disappointment. The team signed former Aggies fullback Jorvorskie Lane, who played under Dolphins offensive coordinator Mike Sherman when Sherman was in College Station.

Lane's also a brother of Packers tight end Jermichael Finley (most people would say Lane and Finley are "half-brothers" but I have a so-called "half-brother" and it feels an insult to call him anything other than my "brother.").

The fullback seems less like a Lane and more like an entire block at 5-11, 277. Not surprising, then that he Pete Johnson-ed his way to 49 touchdowns in 49 college games and 2,090 yards on 461 carries. He didn't get drafted in 2009 after he appeared unable to run at a too-robust-for-even-Woody-Hayes 290-295. He's spent time both the Indoor Football League and the Arena Football League.

 

My first thought was to wonder if he was related to former massive NFL fullback MacArthur Lane, a Pro Bowl back in 1970. Couldn't find any connection however.

6 down, 3 to go

Sorry about the relative lateness of this posting. Both Barry Jackson and I have had problems with the TypePad mobile site so this post got delayed by my run from Doral Golf Resort & Country Club (no, I wasn't getting in 18, yes, it was work -- see my FIU blog soon over at http://miamiherald.typepad.com/fiusports) down to New Chinatown for a week's worth of Chinese food.

So you've probably already read elsewhere -- maybe even on my Twitter feed, http://twitter.com/DavidJNeal -- that the Dolphins signed Univesity of Miami running back Lamar Miller to a four-year deal this afternoon. Miller, a fourth-round pick, is the sixth Dolphins draft pick to sign. Remaining: Ryan Tannehill, Olivier Vernon and Michael Egnew. 

If you haven't read it elsewhere, you just did here and thank you for reading.

Armando will be back from vacation sometime in June. Or July.